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We own a rabbit AND a dog, so occasionaly when we have to take the rabbit out (they are both outdoor pets) we have to put our young (approx. 2 year old) dog on a tie-out (rope). She's always fine when she's on it, but she still doesn't like it. At certain times of the day when she remembers we take the rabbit out and sometimes tie her on a stakeout, she gets really head-shy, and moves away from our hands. Then she bounces around and avoids us. How can I build up her confidence and make her not get nervous about the tie-out?

>>We own a rabbit AND a dog, so occasionaly when we have to take the rabbit out (they are both outdoor pets)************

I am extremely sorry to hear your RottChow mix is an outside pet. If you cannot share your home, this dog would be better off finding a new home. Both rotties and chows do very poorly as outside dogs. In the last 15 years, fully 80 (maybe more!) percent of the dog bites I have read about by both breeds have been outside dogs. In reality, dogs are pack animals. They NEED a lot of time, even if just laying at your feet. Is there some reason why you CANNOT have this dog inside? The "headshy" shows there are issues, and these issues are only going to get worse with this dog living outside. How can I help you to move this dog inside?

http://hometown.aol.com/debradownsouth2/outsidedogs.html

http://www.mcvicker.com/hsscv/hsscv12.htm
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Debra
ebraDownSth@aol.com" target="_blank">DebraDownSth@aol.com
Blessed Are The Flexible For They
Shall Not Be Bent Out of Shape.]

I completely agree.. No dog (or rabbit, for that matter.. poor thing.. with a body that size how much bdy heat do you suppose he generates?) should be kept outside.. All pets (except maybe horses and chickens) should be in the house with the owner, or they should find another home.. Practically all animals, except maybe hamsters, are social animals that need to just be around people or other animals...

How long is the dog kept outside for every day? Does anyone stay out with the dog? I don't think it should be a problem if it isn't for long periods of time. In the summer, I am hoping to be able to take Cookie outside to lay out with me (Obviously Cookie would be in a nice shady area). We just got a really nice travel crate for her, and would like to enjoy some time in the back yard with her in the summer, but not for long periods, and only when we are out there with her.
As for rabbits, they can be very happy outside, as long as they have shade. I had a large Chinchilla rabbit. Of course the bunny would need to be brought in at night and such, and I don't think either animal should be outside unsupervised.
I am against keeping dogs outside, but am not against enjoying the outside with your dog, as long as the dog has a cool spot to lay in the shade, and plenty of water, if the dog seems too hot, take him in. On hot days I wouldn't recomend it at all.
You need to clarify what you mean by "kept outside." How long is the dog out for? does he have shade and water? does he have someone to keep him company?
I would never tie my dog outside unless I was out there with her and she was comfortable and happy.

I think everyone at some point or another wants to enjoy time outside with their dog, and sure rabbits can be happy outside in the summer, but it's not fair to do that to him in the winter..

She just said that they're both "outdoor pets", which sounds like they live outdoors.. I definitely want to enjoy as much time as possible outdoors with Kaiser, that's half the fun of having a dog.. Hiking, frisbee, swimming, and just being in the sun.. But a dog being outside all winter, that would be so depressing..

I agree with you 100%.
They didn't mention where they live or if it even gets cold in the winter. And your right, the phrase "outdoor pet" leads me to believe that they are constantly kept outside.
Again, I don't think any animal (except farm animals) should be kept outside unsupervised at all, for any length of time.
And besides that, you just can't bond with a pet that you don't share a "den" with as well as you could a dog that you did share a "den" with. They're pack animals and if they're discluded from the pack, they become independent and independent dogs are much more difficult to control than a dog that knows your boss.

Exactly.. It's a fine line to raise a dog to be not dependent, but not independant either.. Does that make sense? Too dependant and you get anxiety disorders, too independent and you have no control..
There's a post on the yorkie board right now where someone is asking about potty training.. Someone told them to hold the dog ALL the time when he's not outside.. When he goes outside, let him play for a few minutes and then hold him again for the couple of hours until he needs to go out.. It didn't sound like they meant on a leash, but actually in your arms.. Aside from being deathly irritating for the owner, that dog would have countless seperation anxiety problems when the owner so much as went to get groceries..
And then if the dog is never in your company while you're sleeping, eating, working, watching tv, he'll never understand proper behaviour in a human dominant world..

heh.. the problems we put ourselves through as dog owners

And when you think about it, even farm animals are inside at least some of the time.. And then you get my aunt, who's dog's official breed is Falabella, a miniature horse.. She's housetrained just like a dog, walks on a leash and halter just like a dog, fetches things, sleeps on the couch with them when they're watching tv.. The house is a split level so that the largest flight of stairs is 5 high, and when they built the house they had ramps put in beside all the stairs for her..

If they can manage to live with a horse in the house, anyone should be able to manage living with a dog..

I have always wanted a miniature horse! But they're illegal where I am cause we're so close to the city. We're not zoned for farm animals. Thats great that she is such a good horse! I hope she doesn't have hard wood floors!
You are so right, there is a fine line between being depended and being independed. It's difficult to get that happy middle.
I can't believe someone said to constantly hold the dog! Thats so wrong, that dog is going to have seperation anxiety. Granted, I pick Cookie up a lot, cause I know she is going to be too big to pick up real soon, but I've noticed her becoming a bit more independent which is good. She's at that age. She'll choose to sleep on the floor rather than snuggle up with us, she'll play in the other room without worrying about us, stuff like that. But she is still a sweetheart and likes to cuddle. She has been doing SO good the past week or so. Yesterday and this morning, she willingly went into her crate, and she does everything I say on first command. Now the only times she barks is if she wants to play and we don't, so we've been praising her when she brings us a toy, rather than barking.
She is a very smart dog, and she is very good for us, but she needs some manners. I think that will be what we really focus on when we get into training. It's so exciting when you know your training is working. I was so happy yesterday when she went into her crate on her own!
Hows Kaiser this week?

The head-shy-ness isn't merely caused from the tie-out. It's illustrates a bigger problem with the relationship with your dog, and much of that comes from the dog being a pack animal, she really is a pack of one. A good trainer and a willingness to bring the dog indoors will make a huge difference.